UMUC Wins $180 Million Contract to Teach U.S. Troops in Asia

Multimillion-dollar Department of Defense contract calls for UMUC to teach undergraduate troops stationed in the U.S. Pacific Command for up to six more years

By Kerry O'Neill
(koneill@mghus.com)
|
April 9, 2009

ADELPHI, Md. (April 9, 2009) – UMUC has won an education
contract—valued at $180 million by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)—to
deliver undergraduate programs on-site to U.S. troops stationed in countries in
the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM). UMUC has been on the ground providing higher
education to military servicemembers in Asia since 1956 and to the military as a
whole since 1949. The new contract runs for 12 months, renewable each year up to
a total of six years.

“University of Maryland University College has a
long tradition of providing a quality education to our men and women in uniform,
in Maryland and abroad,” said Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. “We are proud
that this fine school—part of the University System of Maryland—has been called
upon to continue that tradition and extend its offerings to servicemembers
across Asia, allowing them to continue their studies and prepare for a brighter
future while protecting our country.”

Under the contract, UMUC’s programs
will be available to the more than 200,000 U.S. servicemembers based in Japan,
Korea, Okinawa, Guam, Australia, Singapore and Thailand. Courses will be offered
in Asian and foreign language studies and liberal arts; a bachelor’s degree in
education will be offered in partnership with UMUC’s sister institution, Bowie
State University.

“Today’s announcement reinforces UMUC as an invaluable
asset statewide, nationwide and worldwide,” said University System of Maryland
Chancellor William E. Kirwan. “This DoD contract positions UMUC to continue as
the leading education provider for U.S. military personnel and their dependents.
With more than 50 flag officers among UMUC graduates and more than 1 million
servicemembers having taken courses from UMUC over the past 60 years, it is
clear the institution is the worldwide education leader.”

UMUC currently
teaches in more than 20 countries, including in Europe and the Middle East. Last
year, the university attracted media attention when it announced a DoD contract
to teach troops stationed in countries in the U.S. Central Command, positioning
it as the first American university to open classrooms on the ground in
Iraq.

“UMUC is now serving its third generation of servicemembers in Asia and
around the world, and we are pleased and proud to continue our legacy of
providing quality higher education programs to our nation’s troops, no matter
where they are called to serve,” said UMUC President Susan C. Aldridge.